[blindlaw] choosing graduate school or law school

Tue Jan 8 19:00:45 UTC 2019

I didn't hate law school, in fact there were a number of things I quite liked about it. Whether I liked it or not is not the same question as whether I think it is a good idea for most people; I've given reasons why I think the vast majority of the time it is a mistake elsewhere (see the thread "Seeking Guidance" for extensive discussion.)

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jan 7, 2019, at 9:30 PM, Lakeria Taylor via BlindLaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Why did you hate law school?
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Jan 7, 2019, at 6:19 PM, kelby carlson via BlindLaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> James and I are not fully in agreement on the overall utility of law school, but his advice here is golden.
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>> On Jan 7, 2019, at 10:49 AM, James T. Fetter via BlindLaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Intellectually, law school was much easier than my Ph.D. program. In terms of general anxiety, stress, long hours, etc., it was probably a bit harder. I had more reading for the Ph.D. program but also a lot more autonomy and control over my time. There's nothing more fun than having a 3l check up on you every day about a law review editing assignment, even as basic accommodations are being denied. But the job market for law is just so much more open than it was in my former field.
>>> 
>>> If you can get a Ph.D. without taking on debt, and you love the field you're in, and you know going in that your chances of landing an academic or any other high-paying job are limited, and you're a bit of a masochist, then go for it. But if (and only if) you know that you want to become a lawyer, then go to law school. Or if you want to become a legal academic, and your Ph.D. is in something that can be related to the law, then do both. Just be prepared for an extremely overcrowded job market and be ready to practice for awhile first.
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> On 1/7/2019 10:41 AM, LaKeria Taylor via BlindLaw wrote:
>>>> James,
>>>> 
>>>> What was law school like compared to getting your Ph.D?
>>>> 
>>>> Also, I have found joint law degree programs with my interests, but
>>>> things are getting complicated when those law schools are limited.
>>>> Let me also add that I am looking for internships in a variety of
>>>> things because I don't want to just jump into something, hence why I
>>>> am asking here since many of you have your master's/Ph.d. and chose
>>>> law school at some point in your lives. I also understand that more
>>>> experience looks good along with grades, personal essay, and that sort
>>>> of thing.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> On 1/7/19, James T. Fetter via BlindLaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>> Informational interviews with people in a field of interest would be a
>>>>> good start. In my experience, most people are honest, unless you want
>>>>> something (e.g. a job) from them. Then assume that, by default, it will
>>>>> be between somewhat and significantly harder for you as a blind person
>>>>> to find a job than it was for whomever you are interviewing. You still
>>>>> will, if you're at or near the top of your field. But otherwise... let's
>>>>> just say it would help to have connections in the right places.
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On 1/7/2019 10:18 AM, Maura Kutnyak via BlindLaw wrote:
>>>>>> But lacking experience, how does one set a firm course? Unfortunately our
>>>>>> public school system is not well-designed enough to set people up with an
>>>>>> understanding of their options and what the true experience of a given
>>>>>> path will be.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Maura Kutnyak
>>>>>> 716-563-9882
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Jan 7, 2019, at 9:20 AM, Elizabeth Troutman via BlindLaw
>>>>>>> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> You need to figure out what it is you want to do and then design your
>>>>>>> post-undergraduate training around that. Getting a random degree because
>>>>>>> you think you might be interested in something is not likely to be worth
>>>>>>> the blood, sweat, tears, discrimination, and debt you will face. I
>>>>>>> actually did a joint master's in public policy and JD, which did reduce
>>>>>>> the cost by one year (i.e. what you are suggesting would be 5 years of
>>>>>>> school, but if you do a joint program, you can do it in four). But I
>>>>>>> would not recommend that unless you had a relatively clear plan of how
>>>>>>> you could parlay those degrees into a long-term career.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Elizabeth
>>>>>>> Troutman<http://www.brookspierce.com/our-people/attorneys/elizabeth-l-troutman>
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> [cid:image003.jpg at 01D4A66A.3F430CD0]<http://www.brookspierce.com/>
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> t: 336.271.3138
>>>>>>> f: 336.232.9138
>>>>>>> 
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